The Cutting Edge™ - WIC 2004 in Review

Outgoing President Chuck Granger Recognized

At the WMMA® Business Session on April 23rd, outgoing President Chuck Granger was recognized for his remarkable dedication to the industry and to WMMA®. Mr. Granger, who recently retired from 3M Company Sales Center after 37 years of service, was an active member of WMMA® for more than 10 years. His energy and participation will be missed, as he moves fully into retirement.

One of the most widely-felt accomplishments of Mr. Granger’s Presidency is the successful WMMA® Strategic Visioning Process, which he spearheaded in 2002. Through research, consultation and introspection, WMMA® realized a strategic plan, the elements of which were implemented during Mr. Granger’s Presidential term, and which are still unfolding today.

Committee realignment, including the development of new, focused committees; “cutting edge” benefits to keep our members competitive; and partnerships with companies who now offer business tools to members at a heavily subsidized cost, are just some of the positive marks that Mr. Granger made on WMMA®. His goals were realized and his vision was shared by the membership at large. His efforts have shaped our Association’s path for the future

Many thanks to Chuck, and best of luck in your retirement!

New Officers and Directors Elected

At the Friday, April 23rd WMMA® Business Session, members of WMMA® elected Peter Perez, President of Carter Products Co., Inc. in Grand Rapids, MI, to a two year term as President of the Association. Jim Laster, Executive Vice President and Director of Engineering for Newman*Whitney, a Division of Newman Machine Company, Inc. in Greensboro, NC, was elected to a two year term as Vice President.

Tom Anderson, President of Safety Speed Cut Mfg. Co. Inc. in Anoka, MN was elected by the Board to serve as Treasurer for a one year term.

At the Business Session, members also elected three new Directors to serve three-year terms on the Association Board, starting April 23rd, 2004 through April 2007- Ed Fiantaca, President of Accurate Technology in Fletcher, NC; Tom Onsrud, President of C.R. Onsrud Inc. in Troutman, NC; and John Schultz, President of Super Thin Saws, Inc. in Waterbury, VT. Congratulations!

Outgoing Directors recognized for their service to the Board over the past three years were Tom Anderson, of Safety Speed Cut Mfg. Co. Inc. in Anoka, MN, who will remain on the Board as the Treasurer; Mark Chappell of Alexander Dodds Company in Grand Rapids, MI; and Ed Fiantaca, of Accurate Technology, who completed the Board term of a departed Director, but who was reinstated for another full term. Thank you for your service!

WMMA® Honors John Zinn with Baldwin Award of Excellence

WMMA® honored John D. Zinn with the 2004 Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence during the WMMA® Business Session. This annual Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the woodworking industry, the Association, their companies and their community.

Mr. Zinn is an industry icon, who created the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair – USA® (IWF), as we know it today. He was responsible for the smooth transition of IWF from Louisville, KY to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, where it remains today.

The presentation speech given by 2003 Baldwin Award Winner Sandy Berliner, noted, “The stature of IWF under our winner has been recognized worldwide. To us, he is Mr. IWF. He has an excellent rapport with his national and international colleagues in the woodworking industry. Executives of the woodworking fairs in Nagoya, Hanover, and Milan regard our winner as the best in the business. To say he has worldwide recognition is an understatement.”

Mr. Zinn is a graduate of Pittsburg State University, where he majored in Wood Technology. He has maintained ties with the University, serving first on the Wood Technology Advisory Committee, and currently on the Technology Department Advisory Committee.

He began work with the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) in 1970 as a member of the Field Staff. He moved to New Orleans, SFPA’s headquarters, as Manager of the Field Staff. He worked with Keith Judkins, show manager for SFPA’s Expo. When Keith left in 1978, Mr. Zinn replaced him as show manager, directing the Expo held at the Superdome in New Orleans in 1979. The next show in 1981 in Atlanta was his last with SFPA. In December of that year, Mr. Zinn began his association with the International Woodworking Fair. His first Fair was in Louisville at the Kentucky Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in 1982. The year 1984 saw the Fair come to Atlanta where it has remained. And the rest is history.

In addition to his dedication to the woodworking industry for over three decades, Mr. Zinn is an involved community and family man. He volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and New Hope Mission in Georgia. He is a loving husband to Debbie and a proud father to Courtney and Patrick.

Mr. Zinn plans to retire after this year’s IWF. So WMMA® found it most fitting to recognize Mr. Zinn in 2004 for his many years of service to the industry, and for changing the way we do business.

The Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence is presented annually to a member of the WMMA®. Nominations come from the membership and are voted on by a panel consisting of WMMA® Officers, Past Presidents and Membership Services Committee. This year marks the 21st year that WMMA® has bestowed this honor.

WMMA® Business Session Jam-Packed with Member Benefits

The 2004 WMMA® Business Session on Friday, April 23rd presented members with three hours of tangible, cost-saving benefits, designed to help the bottom line and keep members competitive in this changing marketplace.

In addition to the election of Officers and the presentation of the Baldwin Award of Excellence, members were treated to the details of three ongoing WMMA® programs. The demonstrations showed how these programs, and others, are making a real difference at WMMA® member companies.

Alan Beaulieu of The Institute for Trend Research (ITR) was the keynote speaker, and he outlined the services now available to all WMMA® members at no cost – services that can keep your company ahead of the economic curve. All members can access the Quarterly Trend reports, posted on the WMMA® website at http://www.wmma.org/members/efreports.cfm. And for $400, members can submit five years of sales data to receive a customized analysis, which can help track where your company should invest, spend, and cut back over the near term.

WMMA® members who are already signed up for this customized service (14 members and counting) attest to the benefits they have derived from their report already. From building a new plant, to refinancing, to hiring personnel in anticipation of a sales increase – the results are in. This is a major member benefit that all members should act on – today. See http://www.wmma.org/members/efreports.cfm for details to subscribe.

Alan’s exciting presentation was followed by an overview of a new, member’s only cost-saving plan. Tim Foy of CommonWealth Professional Group (CPG), told members of a new partnership between WMMA® and CPG, which makes cost-savings available to Association members, for the first time. Worker’s comp, product liability, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance are just some of the areas of savings for WMMA® members. In the near future, an entire package of savings offerings will be rolled out to all WMMA® members.

Finally, three recipients of WMMA® Scholarships over the last year traveled to Tucson to enlighten members about the benefits of the Education & Scholarship program. Bryan Kearse and Tim Horn from North Carolina State University, and Phil Huss from Tennessee Technological University, sat on a panel and fielded questions from the members and from Todd Herzog, Chair of the Education & Scholarship Committee. All WMMA® members can create their own scholarship program using WMMA® dollars, to help with their human resources needs. See http://www.wmma.org/members/edu_comm.cfm for details.

Said Michael Burdis, President of James L. Taylor Mfg. Co., “This year’s Business Session was the best in recent memory. Our shift away from Committee Reports towards economic trend analysis is very valuable. It helped me to solidify Taylor’s three-year plan for expanding in our growing economy. The presentation by CPG gave me a one-stop way to look at all of our insurance costs with potential to save tens of thousands of dollars. WMMA® members would find value in this (3) hour Business Session.”

John Kennedy Delivers on T.E.A.M.-Work at the Opening Luncheon

At the opening General Luncheon on Wednesday, April 21st, delegates and spouses were treated to the motivational presentation of Mr. John Kennedy, who spoke about the value of team. He highlighted the assets that various types of employees can bring to the table, and how seemingly different personalities can work well together. His quick and lighthearted delivery kept the captivated audience involved from start to finish.

Throughout North America, Europe and Australia, John Kennedy has delivered keynote speeches and seminars that have empowered audiences to “SHAKE IT UP!” His experience and energy place him as a speaker of choice for progressive, global companies and associations including Taco Bell, General Electric, Orvis, Centex Homes, Marriott Hotels, American Nursery and Landscape Association, and Elizabeth Arden.

John focuses his presentations on customer service, management, and leadership issues, specializing in the service-related industries of hospitality and technology. He combines a four-year Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship with over 15 years of management and sales experience to create a powerful, dynamic, and insightful presentation. John is the co-author of “Fantastic Customer Service…Inside and Out!” and “Management That Cooks” which was released this past winter.

John Kennedy
Kennedy Consulting
www.ishakeitup.com
john@ishakeitup.com

Concurrent Workshops Focus on Keeping Companies Competitive

On Saturday morning, delegates attended concurrent workshops on a variety of pressing topics. The speakers were highly qualified individuals, who are experts in their respective fields:

• David Berger (david@wmc.on.ca) spoke on Increasing Profitability Through Lean Manufacturing
• Michael Colopy (iccimc1@aol.com) spoke on Engaging China: Myths and Realities
• Dick Judy (wf21@workforceassociates.com) presented on how U.S. manufacturing and its workforce will be affected in the years ahead by technology, demography and the internet in Glimpses of the Future
• Bill Blades (wblades@aol.com) spoke to a packed house on leadership styles to motivate in Re-Energizing your Organization for Greatness
• The team of Art Raymond (araymond@raymondnet.com), Steve Lawser (wcma@woodcomponents.org) and Michael Carson presented Knowing When to Redefine or Expand your Business in changing times
• Tips and Tools for Managing the Hispanic Workforce were shared by Tim Longwell (tim@djcase.com) .

Contact Table Program Welcomes Business Meetings Galore

Over 70 woodworking industry companies participated in this year’s Contact Table Program, which took place over two days. This was a great opportunity for the delegates to network and conduct business – 15 meetings in one day, in one room!

Said one Contact Table participant, “This program is a great feature of the WIC. Each year, we wait for the names of the participating companies to be posted on the website so we can start making appointments. These two days alone give us enough value for our WIC investment.”

Thursday’s Contact Tables were hosted by Manufacturers and Importers, and the Friday Session was hosted by Distributors. All participants agreed that being available to conduct business with leading industry companies in this setting is well worth the time!

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